Construction of bureaus and washstands



'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. D. BURTON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONSTRUCTION OF BUREAU'S AND WASHSTANDS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 19,069, dated January 12, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. D. BURTON, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Const-ruction of Cottage Furniture; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents an isometric View of a bureau, with one of the drawers slightly drawn out. Fig. 2, represents a similar view of the bureau, partially dismembered. Fig. 3, represents one of the bureau drawers, dismembered. Figs. 4 and 5, represent, isometrically, the same general plan of construction as applied to a washstand, and may be further applied to other pieces of a chamber set, such as a wardrobe, or other piece of furniture wherein an outside frame supports or contains drawers, shelves, apartments, or receptacle for such articles as are generally used in sleeping apartments.

Similar letters where they occur in the several ligures denote like parts.

The nature of my invention relates to a peculiar manner of constructing or putting together a bureau or washstand for the triple purpose of their ready dismembermentmtheir adaptability to close packing for safe and cheap transportation especially by sea, and the facility with which any one, though not a mechanic, may set them 11pthe fastenings which unite the several pieces into one complete thing, being wrought upon the pieces themselves.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same in connection with the drawings.

The top A-bottom B, and sides C, of the bureau, are each separately prepared with a view to their being readily united to each other as follows: The top A, has dove tailed grooves cut on its under side, from the back toward the front thereof, but so as to stop short of the front, and not be seen from that side. These grooves receive dovetailed tenons or tongues a on the top of the side pieces C. On the bottoms of the side pieces C, are also cut dovetailed tongues c, which slide into similarly formed grooves b, in the bottom piece B.

D, are supporting pieces to the frame, and more especially to the drawers E.

To put together the bureau, the bottom piece B, is first laid upon the floor, and the two side pieces C, slipped into its grooves. The supporting pieces D, are then slid into grooves cut in the side pieces, from behind, and the back piece F, is then slid down from the top into vertical grooves z' i in the side pieces, and finally the top piece A, is run onto the side pieces, and the whole is firmly united, the back holding in the pieces D, and the top A, preventing the back from rising.

Fig. 3, represents one of the drawers dismembered wherein E, is the front, E', the back, and E the sides-the bottom (not shown) being slid into grooves in the usual manner.

Figs. 4 and 5 represent a washstand put together in every particular like the bureau, but having hinged doors instead of drawers and somewhat differently apportioned in its interior. In this case as well as in the bureau the whole thing is united by dovetailed tongues and grooves worked on the pieces themselves, so that whenever the furniture is to be put together, each piece carries with it its part of the fastening, leaving nothing to be lost, mislaid or misplaced, and not even requirin a screw driver or a screw to put, or hold it together. Each piece is regularly marked for its place, and only requires to be slid into it, a matter which any one can do without the aid of a mechanic. The facility with which such furniture can be taken down and removed in case of fire, is also important; but its greatest importance is in its great saving of cost in transportation, by taking up so little rooml in the hold of a vessel, where charge is made for the cubic foot in content-the weight being no object.

Having thus fully described the nature of my invention what I claim therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The combination of the dovetailed grooves and tenons, by means of which a bureau or washstand, may be dismembered and again united, or set up, in the particular order or sequence of parts as set forth for the purpose specified.

J. D. BURTON.

Witnesses:

A. A. RANNEY, Jos. N. PIERCE. 

